episode_0012

5:19 PM.

This was the time I arrived at the shabby meeting place of my proud “reading appreciation club.”

“······Lian, junior.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Why are you kneeling there with your hands raised?”

“······Yes.”

It was the moment when I began to receive this bizarre and grotesque punishment from Tania, something I wouldn’t even ask of an elementary school student.

“······Tania, senior.”

“Speak.”

“My arm is starting to hurt a little.”

“You’re doing well. I asked the junior to endure a bit more even if his arm hurts.”

“···.”

“I’ll tell him to let you down soon, so please bear with it a little longer.”

Was Tania’s unusually chilly demeanor today due to her mood? No, that couldn’t be it.

I briefly entertained that thought, but soon dismissed it far away. How could this be due to her mood? The chilliness emanated right from her words. It was strange not to notice it.

‘······I have nothing to say.’

Of course, there was nothing to say. Because I was the cause of Tania, who had a gentler disposition than anyone else, being in this state.

This was undeniable.

I knew this better than anyone.

“···.”

I just obediently raised my hand, carrying out the punishment Tania had given me.

So, how much time had passed?

When the long hand of the clock on the wall started pointing to the number 6.

“This seems like enough reflection. You can put your hand down now.”

Finally, the voice I had been waiting for came.

“······Ouch.”

The piercing pain that came as soon as I put my hand down. And then, despite trying to endure it as much as possible, the sound of pain that eventually burst out of my mouth.

It was truly an impeccable combination.

Why does it hurt so much?

I hadn’t even held up my hand for as long as I thought.

It was an unbelievable fact, but the time I had my hand raised was only a mere 10 minutes.

A total of 49 minutes late for the club.

Although there was a fivefold difference in time, it felt like the former had passed several times slower.

Seemingly reading my expression, Tania looked at me quietly and spoke.

“Junior. Are you thinking, ‘Why is time passing so slowly?’”

“······Yes.”

“Well, that’s a relief then. It means you’ve diligently carried out the punishment I assigned to you.”

“···.”

“If by any chance you had said something like, ‘You’re finishing this quicker than I thought,’ I would have added another 20 minutes to your punishment.”

Tinia, who articulates dreadful remarks more vividly than anyone else.

Hmm.

I believed that among the few people around me, Senior was the only sane one.

But seeing that figure, it seemed that might not be entirely true.

If he were truly sane, he wouldn’t casually joke about inflicting pain on others.

My faith in Tinia was crumbling in real-time.

The faith that was crumbling like this.

Fortunately, it could be restored to its original state soon.

“I was just joking. Why would I ask Rian junior to do such a thing again?”

“Can I trust that?”

“Of course. I’m not a bad club president who abuses club members, you know?”

“Then why did you just now······.”

“But, I think it was perfectly justified just now. You were late without even contacting me for a whopping 49 minutes.”

I got hit with another retort for speaking up unnecessarily.

I should have just stayed quiet.

If I had stayed quiet, it would have naturally blown over.

But as luck would have it.

Tinia seemed to be forgetting the most important fact, staring at me with an icy expression, and said,

“Right. I haven’t asked you yet why you were late, have I?”

“···.”

“Tell me once. Why were you late for our sacred club time?”

It was a statement that emphasized the threat of erasing me from this world.

There were about two options that came to mind here.

First, tell the truth.

Second, beat around the bush and move on.

Normally, I would have chosen the second option.

It’s easier and faster.

As long as I can bear the slight guilt of lying, it’s easier to end the situation than any other way.

“I was delayed because I was called to the student affairs office.”

However, the choice that came out of my mouth was the first option.

“I don’t really want to experience that again.”

Standing with my hands raised while kneeling down. The terrifying punishment from earlier had already turned into a trauma. It was just a simple fear. I was afraid that if I got caught lying now, I might experience the dreadful time from earlier twice over. That fear made only the truth flow from my mouth.

“Why is that?”

“…”

“You should also tell me the reason why you were called to the student affairs office, Lian.”

Even if I tried to explain, it would only be a painful fact that Tinea’s expression, upon hearing my confession, became even colder.

***

After I finished explaining how I ended up visiting the student affairs office, thankfully, Tinea seemed to understand my position and nodded her head.

“Hmm. If what you’re saying is true, then this couldn’t be helped.”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes. If someone from my class had casually brought up my family, I probably wouldn’t have been able to hold back either.”

Tinea comforted me, saying that she probably wouldn’t have been able to hold back if someone had touched on her family. Most people in this situation would have been moved by the affectionate appearance of a senior understanding their mistake. However, as the actual person involved, I was thinking differently.

“She seems genuinely angry.”

It was a picture that didn’t come to mind at all. Despite my efforts to recall her cold expression from earlier, I couldn’t conjure anything. And perhaps, this was only natural. A senior who was always gentle. A senior who always greeted others with a warm expression. This was an expression used by the protagonist in the original work to evaluate a person named Tinea Trisyon. Knowing the protagonist’s evaluations and being someone experiencing Tinea firsthand like this, it was truly an immense image of kindness. How could I dare to imagine the anger of such a kind Tinea senior?

When I experienced the savior who reached out to me at my most desperate moment, Tinea, I was in a state of possession. The truth is, shortly after the possession, I was in a very serious condition. It was natural. Maintaining a normal state was unreasonable. Possessing into a novel character, and not just any character, but the body of an extra villain who was ignored by all the characters. Perhaps it was a situation that most people couldn’t endure. I could be sure of that because there were times when I thought I couldn’t endure it anymore. Other people’s gazes, especially the gaze of disgust, were not something a person could easily withstand. The gaze of disgust gradually wore down the recipient. If that gaze continued endlessly, the person involved could only collapse. I want to die. That was the thought that came to mind most often at that time. If this doesn’t explain how difficult it is to receive the gaze of disgust, what else could?

And then, it happened. “Senior? Senior Lian?” “…” “Lian! Senior!” Tinea’s voice, slowly pulling me back from my sinking consciousness. “Did you just call me?” “Yes. And I called you several times. What were you thinking so deeply about that you couldn’t hear me calling right next to you?” Before I knew it, Tinea was right beside me. It seemed that recalling memories from the past had plunged my mind into darkness. “I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.” “No, there’s no need to apologize. I was just curious why my words weren’t reaching you, since you seemed to be deep in thought.” “…” “Is it a thought you can’t share with me? If you have any worries, feel free to tell me anytime!” As if she would always lend an ear for counseling, Tinea confidently spoke, patting her seemingly fragile heart. Her pitiable…no, her cute appearance involuntarily brought a smile to my lips. “It was an important concern. I was actually pondering what to do for dinner tonight.”

“······Hm. That’s something I’ve always struggled to decide until the very end, wrapping my head around it in deep contemplation.”

Seeing that sight, I was momentarily able to shake off the gloomy thoughts that had been consuming my mind just moments ago.

······Right.

I should enjoy the present.

There’s no need to worry about the future anymore.

After all, the future has already been decisively determined.

Isn’t it more foolish to fret over a future that’s already set in stone?

Isn’t it rather futile to bring to mind once again a future that’s already been firmly established and won’t change?

Suddenly, such thoughts occurred to me.

These thoughts were greatly helpful in briefly forgetting the impending future.

Yes. Escaping reality.

If we really think about it, this too was a form of escaping reality.